Charlie Coles facts for kids

Charlie Coles (born February 6, 1942 – died June 7, 2013) was a famous American college basketball coach. He was the head coach for men's basketball teams at Miami University and Central Michigan University. He was known for his long and successful career in basketball, both as a player and a coach.

Early Life and High School Star

Charlie Coles was born Charles Leroy Coles in Springfield, Ohio. He later moved to Yellow Springs to live with his grandparents. He went to Bryan High School there.

During his senior year in 1959, Charlie was an amazing basketball player. He led the entire state in scoring, averaging an incredible 42.1 points per game. In one game, he even scored 65 points! To honor his achievements, his jersey number 33 was retired by Yellow Springs High School in 2000. Charlie Coles attended the special ceremony himself.

College Days at Miami (OH)

After high school, Charlie Coles went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He continued to be a star basketball player there from 1962 to 1965. He scored double figures (10 or more points) in all three seasons he played.

As a junior, he had his best college season, averaging 18.5 points per game. He was recognized as a second-team All-MAC (Mid-American Conference) player in both his junior and senior years. Overall, he averaged 15.4 points per game during his time at Miami. He also shot very well, making 45.8% of his shots from the field and 80.2% from the free throw line. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Miami.

High School Coaching Success

After graduating from Miami, Charlie Coles became a very successful high school basketball coach. He started coaching in Springfield and Yellow Springs. Later, he became the head coach at Saginaw High School in Saginaw, Michigan.

He coached the Saginaw Trojans from 1972 to 1982. During his time there, he led his teams to play in two state championship games. This showed his talent for leading young players.

Moving to College Coaching

Charlie Coles then moved on to coach at the college level. He worked as an assistant coach at the University of Detroit from 1982 to 1985. This was an important step in his coaching career.

His first job as a college head coach was at Central Michigan University. He coached the Central Michigan Chippewas from 1986 to 1991. In his six seasons there, his team had a strong record of 92 wins and 84 losses.

Central Michigan Achievements

The 1986–87 season was especially great for Charlie Coles and Central Michigan. His team finished with an impressive 22 wins and only 8 losses. Because of this success, Charlie Coles was named the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Coach of the Year. That season, he led CMU to win both the MAC regular-season championship and the MAC tournament championship. This earned them a spot in the prestigious NCAA Tournament. A future NBA All-Star, Dan Majerle, was on that team.

After his time at Central Michigan, he coached at Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio, from 1992 to 1994. His record there was 32 wins and 16 losses.

Returning to Miami (OH)

Charlie Coles returned to college coaching at Miami University in 1994. He served as an assistant coach for two years. In 1996, he became the head coach for Miami's men's basketball team. This happened when the previous coach, Herb Sendek, left for another university.

Coles had a fantastic career as Miami's head coach, leading the team for 16 seasons until 2012. He helped the RedHawks win three MAC regular-season championships (in 1997, 1999, and 2005). His teams also reached the championship game of the MAC Tournament in his first five years as head coach. Miami won the MAC tournament title twice under his leadership, in 1997 and 2007.

Sweet Sixteen Run

In 1999, Charlie Coles led the RedHawks to an amazing achievement. With future NBA player Wally Szczerbiak on the team, Miami reached the "Sweet 16" in the NCAA Tournament. This means they were one of the top 16 college basketball teams in the entire country! They eventually lost to the University of Kentucky, but it was a memorable season.

Record-Breaking Coach

Charlie Coles was named MAC Coach of the Year again in 2005. On January 20, 2009, he made history at Miami. He earned his 217th win at the university, becoming the school's winningest coach ever. He passed Darrell Hedric for this record.

He continued to break records. On January 16, 2010, he became the all-time leader in MAC conference wins. He achieved his 195th conference victory by beating Ohio University. Charlie Coles finished his coaching career with an incredible 219 MAC wins.

While coaching at Miami, he also taught a class about basketball coaching. His many contributions to Miami University, as a player, coach, teacher, and mentor, led to him being inducted into Miami's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.

Legacy and Retirement

Charlie Coles retired from coaching after the 2011–12 season, ending his 16 years as head coach at Miami. He passed away on June 7, 2013, at the age of 71. His funeral service was held at Miami University's basketball arena, Millett Hall. He was buried in Oxford Cemetery, close to the Miami campus.

Charlie Coles left behind his wife, Delores, his son Chris, his daughter Mary Bennett, and four grandchildren. He is remembered as a beloved coach and a true legend in college basketball.